An inaugural dissertation on the influenza : submitted to the examination of the Rev. John Ewing, S.T.P. provost ; the trustees and medical professors of the University of Pennsylvania, in order to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine, on the eighth day of May A.D. 1793 / by Robert Johnston, of Philadelphia, member of the American Medical Society.
- Johnston, Robert, 1750-1808
- Date:
- MDCCXCIII [1793]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An inaugural dissertation on the influenza : submitted to the examination of the Rev. John Ewing, S.T.P. provost ; the trustees and medical professors of the University of Pennsylvania, in order to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine, on the eighth day of May A.D. 1793 / by Robert Johnston, of Philadelphia, member of the American Medical Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![The ftate of the fyftem which is neceffary to theforma- tionof the difeafe may be inferred from the fymptoms with which it is accompanied, particularly that prcftration of ftrength, and impaired -vigour in all the functions of the body(27), which almoit always attend it. The pre- difponent caufes of catarrhs in general tend likewife to defignate it as a ftate of more or lefs debility. Thefe caufes, according to Cullen, are weaknefs of the fyftem, and particularly the leflened vigour of the circulation, oc- cafioned by fading, by evacuations, by fatigue, by a laft night's debauch, by excels in venery, by long watching, by much ftiidy, &x. &c(28)« The influenza beinp- contagious furnifh.es additional proof. f< The bodies of men [fays the laft mentioned author] are efpecially liable to be affecled by contagions, when they are any ways confiderably weakened by want of food, and even by a fcanty diet, or one of little nou- rilhment; by intemperance in drinking, which, when the ft'upor of intoxication is over, leaves the body in a weak- ened ftate, &c &c.(2o) But the following cafes related by Doctor Hamilton, clearly develope this matter, and very Satisfactorily prove that previous debility is absolutely neceffary to the admif- lion and formation of the difeafe. A boy of about of thefe places, though it is half way between the two latter and feveral miles nearer London than St. Albans, the influenza jhewed itielf later than in either of the other two places. The manner in which' he accounts for this difference of attack in point of time 11X thcl'e villages, forcibly applies in fupport of the doftrine which he wifhes to explode. Ke informs us that Harpenden is on an eminence,the foil of a light dry nature,when compared to the others ; and from hence, with great propriety concludes that the difference arifes from it} filiation favour- ing lefs its exciting andprcdifpofnig caufe (27) Carrie's account of the difeafes of America, Page 102- (28) Firft Lines, Volume the firft, Page 134. And, £20) At page 246, of the fecond Volume.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21133852_0026.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
